Military Famine, Human Rights, and Child Hunger

Abstract

Discussions of world hunger have focused on economic growth and international food aid, assuming that food supply is the critical issue. The authors show that food access rooted in social stratification and military power is the central problem. Synthesizing the entitlement and military famine approaches to hunger, the authors examine the effects of food supply, economic growth, social stratification, and military power on child hunger in less developed countries (1990-2000) using a cross-national analysis. Child hunger is largely due to gender stratification, militarization, and armed conflict. Halting wars, expanding political rights, and improving gender equity reduce child hunger. Economic growth and programmatic international food aid reduce child hunger, but there are no benefits from increased total food supply or international emergency relief. Child hunger is an access problem best addressed by expanding social and political rights, reducing armed conflict and militarization, and improving women's status. Early warning and relief efforts should focus on these concerns instead of the ``supply'' concerns traditionally emphasized.

Modernization vs. Dependency Revisited: Effects of Foreign Direct Investment on Food Security in Less Developed Countries1

“…Food insecurity often results from inequitable access to resources and accounts for delays in development and the speed of economic convergence (Gollin, Parente, and Rogerson 2007). Food insecurity even transcends the domestic sphere, producing repercussions on international relations (Bryant and Kappaz 2005;Jenkins et al 2007). Hunger crises may spill over into neighboring countries through refugees and force national governments and international organizations to intervene (Jenkins et al 2007).…”

“…Food insecurity even transcends the domestic sphere, producing repercussions on international relations (Bryant and Kappaz 2005;Jenkins et al 2007). Hunger crises may spill over into neighboring countries through refugees and force national governments and international organizations to intervene (Jenkins et al 2007). Hunger can lead to political instability and manipulation, ranging from buying votes to joining rebel groups and organized crime.…”

Disease, War, Hunger, and Deprivation: A Cross-National Investigation of the Determinants of Life Expectancy in Less-Developed and Sub-Saharan African Nations

“…There are pronounced, negative consequences on the health, well-being, and the longevity of individuals living in nations engaged in conflict (Jenkins et al 2007;Li and Wen 2005). Specifically, in addition to the obvious, immediate impact of soldier and civilian battle deaths on life expectancy (Lacina and Gleditsch 2005;Li and Wen 2005), warfare is a known vehicle for the transmission of several diseases that impact longevity, including HIV (Lwanda 2004;Smallman-Raynor and Cliff 1991).…”

Intensity of food deprivation: The integrative impacts of the world system, modernization, conflict, militarization and the environment

“…Generally, domestic military spending increases incomes among the citizenry, or augments economic development nationally, thereby improving food security Jenkins et al, 2007). However, spending on arms imports harms food security Scanlan and Jenkins, 2001).…”

“…They do so through 'food wars' (Bello and Baviera, 2009), the increased loss of access to food among vulnerable populations (Jenkins et al, 2007;Messer and Cohen, 2006;Messer et al, 2001;Scanlan, 2001b) and impediments to overall development and growth, including the basic provision of public goods and services (Benoit, 1973;Bullock and Firebaugh, 1990;Kick and Sharda, 1986;Kick et al, 1998), which impact food production and distribution. Jenkins et al (2007) additionally find that the cessation of conflict reduces child hunger. This is consistent with the bulk of approaches that posit conflict exacerbates military spending, and may indirectly heighten the intensity of food deprivation.…”